Door latch



R. R. TEETOR DOOR LATCI-I sept. 20, 1955 Filed DeC. 26, 1951 UnitedStates PatentO DooR LAfrcH VRalph R. Team, Hager'stown, Ina. ApplicationDecember. 26, 1951, 'serial No. 263,227 9 Clainis. (Cl. 292-464) Theinvention' relates generally to latches and more particularlyto latchesadaptedtfor usein swinging doors.

The general object of the invention is to .provide a novel door latchwhich 'is quiet'in operation andldoes not cause any. clicking sound whenpassing a keeper into or out of looking relation ther'ewith. i

Another objectis'to provide a novel door latch comprising aspring-operated catch 'engageable with a'keeper and i swingable inwardlybv'ajcamming action .of the keeper on the catch to permitth-e catch topass into and out of ;engagement with the keeper as the door is closedand opened, and means V.for dampening the' action of the spring asitmoves the catch outwardly to prevent the latter from'str'iking :otherpartsfof the latch'with such force as wouldcause afnoticeable'sharpclicking sound. Oth'er objects and advantageslwill become .apparent fromthefollowing description' taken in connection with I theaccompanying'drawingf, in which:

Figure 1' is' a'longitudinal sectlonal view of adoor' latch embodyingthe features o f .the .invention and fshowing the parts thereoffin'theposition they occupy when the door is closed. i

Figure 2i's a' longitudinalsectional view taken on' the line 24-2 of'Figure 1 Figure 3 isfa fragmentary view similar to Figure' 1, butshowing thepositio'n of the parts as the door is being opened. Figure 4and 3, but showing .the position of the .partsas .thedoor is beingclosed. c The present invention i s ernbod ied i n a latchhaving amovable catch member adapted to engage a keeper in the 'frame of va doorto hold the door closed, with manually releasafble .means' for, holdingthe catch 'iii engagement with 'the jleeper. The' latch a'lso. includes'spring means tendingtovhold lthefcatch in keeper-engaging position, withthe `keeper camming the catch'inwardly of. the door, on opening andclosing thereof. to Pass' by the keeper. The manually releasable ,means,has no control over the catch when the .spring forces'it outwardly ofthecasing after passng by the keeper-butoutward movement of the catch isllimited`` by-stoprneans provided in the "casing of the 'la-tch. vAfter.the catch-has' been moved inwardly of such .'casinglin-p'assingthe;-'keeperv on--opening and closing of'thefdooLjthe springmeanslforces the catch outwardly until the catch engages such stopmeans.

2,718,420 Ptented Sept. 20, 1955 2 during the night without awakeningthe child, and if this clicking sound occurred, they would run thatrisk.

The present invention comprises a door latchof the foregoing Character,but provided with means for prelventing such a clicking sound when thecatch is moved outwardly of the casing. To this end, dampening means isprovided to dampen the action of the spring and slow down the outwardmovement of the catch to prevent it from striking sharply against thestop means and thus prevent making a clicking sound. Such dampeningmeans is preferably incorporated in the spring means and insures a slowoutward movement of the catch so that it will engage the stop meanswithout impact, thus avoiding the clicking sound.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawingwherein the door is indicated at 10 and the door frame is shown at 11.The door frame 11 is provided with the usual stop 12 to limit theswinging movement of the door 10 in one direction. The door frame 11 isprovided with a mortise 13 to receive the catch and over the face of themortise is mounted a keeper 14 in the form of a plate having acatch-receiving opening 15 coinciding with the mortise 13.

The catch comprises a tubular casing 20 extending inwardly in a mortisein the door from the edge thereof and provided with a face plate 21mortised in the edge of the door. Within the casing is a catch 22 whichis sector shaped, having fiat upper and lower faces, an arcuate face 23,and generally radial edges 24 and 25. The catch 22 is supported formovement in the casing 20 by a pair of rollers 26 located at therespective side faces of the catch 22 and rotatably secured to the catchby means of a pin 27 extending through the catch. The catch 22 isarranged to swing in opposite directions about the pin 27 upon openingand closing the door, and to move nwardly of the casing when the door isopened.

' When the catch is in its outward position and the door ia'fragrnentary'view similar Fto Figures 1 5 A springl havingsuiiit'zientistrength to' properly'operate the catch in' its various''movements tendsto force the catch outwardly of the leasing, after' itvpasses by the keeper, withfsufficient force to Astrike sharply againstthe stop lmeans andproduce'a clicking* sound, since the manuallyreleasable means'is of a character which does not control the outwardmovement of the catch. Such click- 'Par'ents' frequently'wish 'to'gointo a ehild's bedroom is closed, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, thearcuate edge 23 thereof engages a portion of the margin of the opening15 in the keeper 14.

When the catch is in its outer position, bodily movement thereof isprevented by manually releasable means comprisng a latch memberindicated generally at 30. The latch member is mounted within the casing20 inwardly of the catch and comprises a channel shaped parthaving itsfiange portions 31 pivotally supported in the casing by means of a crosspin 32 having its ends mounted in the Walls of the casing 20 andextending through the two side flanges 31 of the latch member 30. At theouter end of the latch member, the web portion thereof is extended as at33 to engage the pin 27 mounted lin the catch and carrying the rollers26. Thus, when the latch member 30 is swung about the cross pin 32 soVthat the extended portion 33 of the latch engages the pin 27, the catchis prevented from moving bodily inward of the casing. The catch is thusheld in engagement with the keeper 14 to maintain the door closed.

To permit the catch to be moved bodily inward of the casing and therebybe permitted to pass by the keeper 14 to open the door, the manuallyreleasable means is adapted to be swung about the cross pin 32 so thatthe extended portion 33 is swung out of engagement with the pin 27 inthe catch. Thus, the latch member 30 is swung counterclockwise about thecross pin 32 from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shownin Figure 3 where the extended portion 33 lies fiat against the adjacentside of the casing 20. The pin 27 is no longer held by the extendedportion 33 so that the catch may be moved bodily inward of the casingand swung about the axis of the pin 27 by a camming action of the keeper14.on the arcuate edge 23 of the catch, as the door is forced open.

the catch, the flanges 31 of the latch 30 are provided i with inwardlyextending portions 34 straddling a sleeve 35 extending transverselythrough the door. Within the sleeve 35 is a spindle 36 carrying a crosspin 37 extending through slots 40 in the sleeve 35 and engaging theinwardly'extending portions' 34 of the latch member 30. .Thus,longitudinal movement of the spindle 36 in the sleeve 35 in a directionin which the door opens will swing the latch member 30 about its crosspin 32 to disengage the extending portion 33 thereof from the pin 27 ofthe catch 22.

To properly mount the spindle 36 and the sleeve 35 in the door, thesleeve extends beyond the faces of the door and is threaded at its endsto receive escutcheons 41 engaging the respective face of the door. Thespindle 36 extends beyond the sleeve 35 at both ends and in the presentinstance I have shown knobs 42 mounted on the ends of the spindle 36 bywhich the latter may be moved longitudinally. Obviously, means otherthan the knobs 42 may be employed for Operating the spindle.

As heretofore mentioned, the catch is adapted to be moved outwardly ofthe casing by a spring means, and its outward movement is limited bystop means. As herein shown, such stop means comprises a pair of lugs 43formed on the respective sides of the catch 22 and adapted to engageribs 44 in the outer end of the casing. Preferably such ribs 44 areprovided by extending the face plate 21 of the casing inwardly a shortdistance, as shown in Figure 2. The catch 22 is also held againstoutward movement by engagement of the rollers 26 with an arcuate surface45 formed on ribs 44. Thus, when the catch 22 is in its outwardposition, the lugs 43 as well as the rollers 26 are in engagement withthe ribs 44 and outward movement of the catch is thereby limited.

The position of the parts, when the door is closed, is shown in Fig. 1,and in this figure, it will be noted that the catch 22 extends outwardlyof the casing 20 and engages the margin of the opening 15 in the keeper14. Pressure on the door in a direction to open it would tend to`swingthe catch 22 clockwise about the pin 27, but since the extending portion33 is in engagement with the pin 27 and the lugs 43 are in engagementwith the ribs 44, the catch 22 is held against movement in suchdirection. The door is therefore held closed.

To open the door, one or the other of the knobs 42 is pushed or pulled,as the case may be, in the direction of opening the door, and suchmovement causes the pin 37 on the spindle 36 to swing the latch member30 about the cross pin 32 in a clockwise direction to move the extendingportion 33 out of engagement with the pin 27 in the catch. Continuedpressure on the door, through the camming action of the keeper 14 on thecatch, causes the catch to move bodily inward of the casing and to swingin a clockwise direction about the pin 27 to the position shown inFigure 3, so that the catch 22 can pass by the keeper 14 and permit thedoor to swing open. After the door is thus opened and the knob is'released, the spring means forces the catch outwardly of the casing, aswill hereinafter be described, and also swings the latch member 30counterclockwise to bring the extended portion 33 of the latch memberinto engagement with the pin 27.

When the door is swung closed, the catch 22 engages the keeper 14 and isswung counterclockwise by the camming action of the keeper to theposition shown in Figure 4. During such swinging movement the extendingportion 33 of the latch member remains in engagement with the pin 27 sothat the movement of the catch is purely pivotal about the axis of thepin 27. The edge 25 of the catch is preferably made slightly concave soas to facilitate the camming action of the keeper on the catch. When thedoor is fully closed, the spring means then forces the catch outwardlyof the casing until the lugs 43 engage the ribs 44, the rollers 26 beingheld in engagement with the arcuate surface 45 on the ribs by theextended portion 33.

A spring means having sufiicient strength to cause the catch 22 tofunction properly on opening and closing of the door would tend to forcethe catch outwardly of the casing with suflicient force to cause thelugs 43 to strike the ribs 44 with considerable impact, after the catchpasses by the keeper14-on closing the door, and to cause both the lugs43 and the rollers 26 to strike the ribs 44 with considerable impactwhen the catch is moved outwardly of the'casing after opening the door.As heretofore pointed out, such impact would cause a substantialclicking sound, which under certain circumstances would be undesirable.

One of the principal features of the present invention lies in theprovision of a device for preventing such clicking sound by dampeningthe action of the spring means in moving the catch outwardly of thecasing. Structurally, such dampening device is preferably incorporatedin the spring means and comprises generally a piston and cylinder devicewhich tends to compress air upon outward movement on the catch under theinfluence of spring means. Such air is permitted to leak slowly from thecylinder, so that the outward movement of the catch is slowed down andthe lugs 43 as well as the rollers 26 will be prevented from strikingsharply against the ribs 44.

In the present instance, the spring means and dampening device comprisesa cylinder 50 open at one end and closed at its other end by a wall 51(see Figure 1). 'The cylinder is pivotally supported between the flanges31 of the latch member 30 by means of a pivot pin 52 extending throughthe end wall 51 and secured at its ends in upstanding portions 53 formedon the flanges 31. The end wall 51 of the cylinder is provided with alongtudinally extending sleeve 54, and within the cylinder is mounted apiston 55 having a piston rod 56 slidably mounted in the sleeve 54.

The piston rod 56 is adapted to be secured to the catch 22 and for thispurpose, the piston rod 56 extends beyond the sleeve 54 and is securedin a block 57 mounted in a slot 58 cut in the catch 22. The block 57 ispvotally secured to the catch by a pin 60 which is so positioned as tontersect a portion of the piston rod 56, as shown in Figure 1, and thussecure the piston rod to the block 57. Interposed between the cylinderand the catch is a coiled spring 61 which bears at one end against theend wall 51 of the cylinder and at its other end against the block 57.

With the foregoing structure, it will be noted that the spring resistsinward movement of the catch 22 and also resists swinging movement ofthe latch member 30, tending to hold the latter with its extendedportion 33 in engagement with the pin 27 of the catch. The spring 61,through the pressure it exerts on the latch member 30 also tends to holdtheispindle 36 in proper position, ready for operation to release thecatch. Thus, the spring 61 has suflicient strength, not only to shiftthe catch outwardly of the casing, but also to swing the latch memberinto engagement with the pin 27 of the catch and to shift the spindle 36with the knobs 42. With the spring of such strength, it is evident that,whenmoving the catch outwardly of the casing, the lugs 43 as well as therollers 26 would be caused to engage the ribs 44 with considerableimpact. t w

However, when the catch 22 is moved inwardly to compress the spring 61,the piston 55 is moved to the left in the cylinder 50, as shown in thedrawing. When the catch passes by the keeper either on opening orclosing of the door, the spring forces the catch outwardly of the casingand at the same time moves the piston 55 toward the end wall 51.vThistends to compress air within the cylinder, but the piston has aslightly loose fit in the cylinder so that there isv sufficient leakage.of air around the piston 55 and along the piston rod 56 to permit ,thespring to move the catch slowly outwardly anna ss 7wall thezmilers 26.,shut maaac ziibszu'mithcm 'impact ;and ;n clicking will .'.occnn 'doorthns will. operate smiy :bothionopslflnxzfind slsingzthedqr,

F1...-1door 'iateh 'a casing adantcd 'to .be ;mounted :a door, a-catchshitabiy mounted-in Said and adapml to-exztcnd iorg-engaging akeeper, manually relealsable means for. ;said catch in engagement withthe keeper to hold the door closed, 'saidia'tdh'zbeingLsli'iftitblef'Jay'the fkeeper when said means i eleaedtopenthe io ra,nd being shift- `able relativeto said means on closingthe door, aspring devicehppasins shifting movement 'of 'the catch'fboth ;openingVand' closing `the' door'and tendinggtp' move the catchptitwardiy'ofthecasing when .shifted gnopenin or ,closing Vthe'door, 'and' stop meansin said casing for k miting'the' outward movement of the catch relatiye1`of' .t'he' zcairng, the voutward' movernerrt of the icateli, ;intoengagement'with 'said `stop means aft'erpassing the-'keeper either onopening or closing the door being controlled solely by said springdevice, said spring device including a device for dampening the actionof the spring device to prevent the catch from striking said stop meanswith a clicking sound.

2. A door latch comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a door, acatch shiftably mounted in said casing and adapted to extend therefromfor engaging a keeper, said catch being shiftable inwardly of the casingto pass by the keeper onvopening and closing the door, a spring deviceopposing shifting movement of the catch both on opening and closing thedoor and tending to shift the catch outwardlyjof the casing when thecatch is shifted inwardly in passing the-keeper, and stop means in saidcasing for limiting'the outward movement of the catch, the outwardmovement of the catch into engagement with said stop meansafter passingthe keeper either on opening or closing the door being controlled solelyby said spring device, said spring device including a device fordampening the' haction of the spring device to prevent the catch frommaking a clicking sound when engaging the stop means.

3. A door latch comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a door, acatch shiftably mounted in said casing and adapted to extend therefromfor engaging a keeper, said catch being swingable inwardly of the casingin one directon to pass by the keeper on opening the door and in theother directon on closing the door, a spring device opposing shiftingmovement of the catch both on opening and closing the door and opposingin- Ward movement of the catch when the latter swings in eitherdirecton, and stop means in the casing for limiting outward movement ofthe catch, the outward movement of the catch into engagement with saidstop means after passing the keeper either on opening or closing thedoor being controlled solely by said spring device, said spring deviceincluding a device for slowing down the outward movement of the catch bythe spring device to prevent the catch from striking sharply againstsaid stop means to prevent it from making a clicking sound.

4. A door latch comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a door, acatch shiftably mounted in said casing and adapted to extend therefromfor engaging a keeper, said catch being swngable inwardly of the casingin one directon to pass by the keeper on opening the door and in theother directon on closing the door, a spring device opposing inwardmovement of the catch when the latter swings in either directon, andstop means in the casing for limiting outward movement of the catch,said spring device comprising a cylinder, a piston mounted in saidcylinder and having a piston rod con nected to said catch, and a springsurrounding the piston rod and interposed between said cylinder and saidcatch and tending to force the catch outwardly of the casing, suchoutward movement of the catch causing the piston 6 :to zcomplress .airwithin vthr lcylinder' wvith ;the air 'leaking ;around the piston fsothat the tcatch moves vslowly into lengagement 'with said ;stop means t0;avoidv :making ;a `clicking sound. f j

15, A Ldocr latch comprising a'casing adapted to ;be mounted. in a door,:a catch .shiftabty mounted .in said casing and `adapted :to ,extend'therefrom for v.engaging a keeper, ;said catch .being'lshiftablevinwardly ofthe -to :pass zbythe keeper kon opening .and :closingnhedoor, ;a ;springidevicesoppcsing shifting movement .'of'the catch :bothyon opening .and .closing the .door ,and :tending :to .shift the ;catchoutwardly ofithe casing whenzthe catch is shifted inwardly in passingthe MP8211, .andstop means 'i'n said for .limiting :the outwardmovement'of ;the match, said ;spring device :comprising va .spring.adapted :to :be energized zby inward ;movement of said catch, the.outward movement ,of zthe catch ;into zengagemcnt `said stop means.after passing the keeper .either on openor .closing-.the `dontbeingtcontml'led solely by ;said swing device, .and a :piston andcylinder device fm. slowF ing down the action of the spring in movingthe catch outwardly of the casing so that the catch moves slowly intoengagement with said stop means to avoid making a clicking sound.

6. A door latch comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a door, acatch shiftably mounted in said casing and adapted to extend therefromfor engaging a keeper, said catch being shiftable inwardly of the casingto pass by the keeper on opening and closing the door, manuallyreleasable means for holding the catch against inward shifting movementto open the door, a spring device opposing shifting movement of thecatch both on opening and closing the door and tending to shift thecatch outwardly of the casing When the catch is shifted inwardly inpassing the keeper, and stop means in said casing for limiting theoutward movement of the catch, said spring device comprising a springfor urging the catch outwardly of the casing and for opposing movementof said manually releasable means, the outward movement of the catchinto engagement with said stop means after passing the keeper either onopening or closing the door being Controlled solely by said springdevice, and a dampening device for slowing down the action of the springin moving the catch outwardly, said dampening device comprising acylinder member and a piston'member with one of said members 'connectedto said catch and the other of said members connected to said manuallyreleasable means. w

7. A door latch comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a door, acatch shiftably mounted in said casing and adapted to extend therefromfor engaging a keeper, said catch being shiftable inwardly of the casingto pass by the keeper on opening and closing the door, a manuallyoperable channel shaped latch member pivotally mounted in said casingand having :a portion engageable with the catch to hold the latteragainst inward shifting movement to open the door, a cylinder pivotallymounted between the flange portions of the channel, a piston mounted insaid cylinder with a slight clearance therebetween and having a pistonrod connected to said catch, a spring surrounding said piston rod andinter-` posed between said cylinder and said catch and tending to forcethe catch outwardly of the casing, and stop means for limiting theoutward movement of said catch, such outward movement causing the pistonto compress air within the cylinder With the air leaking around thepiston so that the catch moves slowly into engagement with said stopmeans to avoid making a clicking sound.

8. A door latch comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a door, acatch mounted in said casing and adapted to extend therefrom forengaging a keeper, said catch being swingable inwardly of the casing none directon to pass by the keeper on opening the door and in the otherdirecton on closing the door, spring means connected to and opposinginward movement of the ;catch when -the` latter `swings .in :eitherdirectiong.| said casing. having internal ribs adjacent its `outer endon oppositesides thereof and said catch having lugs on opposite sidesthereof adapted to engage saidV ribs and havingrollers on'oppositesidesi thereof to facilitate in- `v'vardmovement of "theicatchon openingthe' door, said -rollers also being adapted v`to :engage said ribs andcooperating'with said lugs1 to limit ontward movement of the catch, saidspring means including a device for slowing down the .outward movementof ;the catch by the spring means to ,preventl said lugs and saidrollers from striking sharply 'against sai'dribs toprevent them frommaking a clicking sound. t '1 9. A door latch comprising a casingadapted to be mounted in a door, a -catch mounted in said casing and'adapted to 'extend therefrom for engaging a keeper, said catch beingswingable .and bodily shiftable inwardly of lthe casing to pass vby thekeeper on opening the door, spring means opposing `inward movement ofthe catch, said casing having internal ribs adjacent its outer end onoppositesides thereof and said catch .having -rollers on oppositesidesthereoffto lfa'cilitate1inward movement of the catchon: opening thedoor, -said= rollers being adapted to engage said ribs to. limit outwardm'o'venient of the catch, said spring means including a device .forlslowing -down the outward'movement of the catch by the spring'means zto prevent :saidV rollers'from striking sharply against saidv ribs toprevent themfrom making 'a clickingsound. i i i 'i References fil eto fthis patent I I UNITED' STATES PTENTS 162,272 .I Colby. v Apr. 30, 18751,435,971 Mueller Nov. 21, 1922 ;003,731 Benq 1 June 4, 1935 2,030,630Gram V ..V Feb. 11,"1936 2,240,400 Johnson ..-..v Apr. 29,` 19,412,293,700 Curtiss Aug. 25, 1942

